2o8 THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



a 2-lb. weight lifted from the floor to a table with a 

 lo-ft. split-cane rod, and candidly I am surprised to 

 hear this. 



When your fish is played out you should, if 



possible, keep below it, and 



Landing the fish. hold the landing-net in the 



water below. The landing-net 

 must always be held in the lower hand, so that with 

 a short line you can lead the fish into it. The correct 

 position of the angler landing his fish is shown in the 

 Frontispiece. When the fish is in the net draw it back 

 and, as far as practicable, do not lift it ; this for two 

 reasons : (i) that the trout is very likely to jump out 

 of the net if you do ; and (2) that raising the net with 

 the trout in it places a dangerous and unnecessary 

 strain on the handle. As you draw the net and fish 

 back in one hand it is a good plan to take hold of 

 the ring of the net as soon as you can reach it with 

 the other hand, and thus steady the net and fish until 

 it is safely on the land. 



When the fish is landed, if it is not large enough to 



kill, hold it firmly without un- 



Returning unsizable due pressure, extract the hook 



fish. with car6 and return it to the 



river at once. Slide it in gently, 

 and do not hurl it on the water and thus stun it. If it 

 is inclined to be sick and turns on its side or back, 

 nurse it with its head upstream in a place where the 

 current is only moderately strong until it has re- 

 covered its wind and can swim away. If you are 



